The courts not only resort

May 30, 2022 Editorial

Kaieteur News – “Court cases are key to changes in oil contract -Chris Ram” was the caption we chose for a story in our Sunday edition (KN May 29). We hear that loudly, and it is clearly understood, for it has both substance and merit.
On the other hand, there is so much that goes beyond the hallowed chambers of the judiciary, wherever such end up to be, after all the many tiers of appeal and escalation.
Guyana’s leaders (as unpromising as they are), must find ways, use any human agency, employ any strategy, to exploit as many pressure points as may be available to twist Exxon’s arm and drum some sense into the heads of the company’s chief decision makers. Because if we don’t, and await adjudication of the courts favourable to this country, then we could be in for a long wait.

Such is the reality of how remote our chances of success in a court of law could be, given the operation of contract law and precedence, as well as the near impregnable character of this burdensome oil deal. To repeat the obvious, it is an uphill fight, one that is rendered even more grueling, given our domestic temperaments and circumstances.

For example, we have lawyers who are savvy, seasoned, and skillful, of that, there is no doubt. But in the same breath, it could be said that we don’t have lawyers of any calibre, even less than a handful with the truly national characteristics that we need, and which could give us a fighting chance to combat the mighty juggernaut that stands against us. It is best identified as the consortium of oil companies, with America’s Exxon as lynchpin and spearhead.

Pay attention and it becomes obvious that there are no leading Guyanese lawyers stepping forward and expressing outrage at the assault and battery inflicted by the oil companies against Guyana. Local lawyers of prowess, who would jump in the blink of an eye, and rise up in righteous rhetoric, as powerful advocates for the man in the street, or on behalf of domestic corporate entities, are now conspicuous by their absence and silence. Their individual bottom line is that nothing must be allowed to interfere with their financial bottom line.

Going against Exxon could mean that they have all but given up on getting a slice of the prospering, mouthwatering legal gravy from overseas operators coming to Guyana to do business. Speaking out for Guyanese interests would make them into marked men and women, hence, blackballed from partaking of the rich legal honey represented by outside companies setting up shop here. Further, our local legal luminaries have no desire to attract the critical scrutiny of the PPPC Government, and end up on the wrong side of its leaders, who are known for their long memories and longer streaks of meanness.

To offer another example of the one-sided fight of the Guyanese people to get justice from the oil companies, particularly Exxon, locals must not make the mistake of thinking that they have loyal and trusted corner men and women from the ranks of foreign proconsuls, better known as ambassadors and High Commissioners. They are here to look out for and represent, if not protect, the interests of Exxon and Hess and Tullow and others. If anyone requires any evidence, they are asked to compare the interest, energy levels, and intensity of the foreign diplomatic chiefs today versus what they displayed during our raucous elections. They were what would be best for their own then, and they are the same way today, now that there is a Quisling PPPC Government on their side. Clearly, all that Guyanese have going for them are their visions of what should be for them and their children, and all their fellow citizens. It is their sense of fair play, their passion for country and patrimony, and their readiness to appreciate that they must link arms to overcome who and what stand in resistance to the fullness of their promise. Guyanese can sit back and absorb whatever is shoveled on them or they can take to rooftops and streets. They can refuse to roll over and die. People power beats any other power, local or foreign.

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